Meet the Maker: STEMS need Flowers

For this edition of Meet the Maker, we are talking with Kristina Betke from Wishcraft Workshop. She will be hosting the booth STEMS Need Flowers for the Faire.

Through email, we talked about the mission of Wishcraft Workshop. Kristina said, “We grow confident artists, curious thinkers and kind citizens with interchanging creative experiences for kids and their families.” I asked what drew her to this work and she explained, “ We saw a need for an alternative to traditional art classes. We operate with a culture of non-judgment and believe in the capabilities of all students, however wonderfully different they may be. Our focus on self-awareness builds confidence and respect, develops self-regulation and self-advocacy and strengthens conflict-resolution and communication skills… We want to be the change that we wish to see in the world and it starts with art. and heart.”

For the Faire, Kristina explained about STEMS Need Flowers “is one of our favorite phrases (and tagline), since we wholeheartedly believe the acronym STEM is really most powerful when it’s STEAM. Art is a critical component and can compliment any aspect of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. We’ll be creating a project that give the participants creative control while making a self-growing flower that operates with a pulley system.” She said that participants can take home their self-growing flower with new “creative confidence” and consider signing up for summer camp!

We are looking forward to building flowers with Kristina Betke at Wishcraft Workshop tomorrow!

Elisa Shoenberger is a writer and oral historian in Chicago. She has written for Ozy, the Billfold, LoveTV, Rebellious Magazine, the Reset, the City Creatures blog for the Center for Humans and Nature. She is the co-editor and co-founder of the Antelope Magazine. You can check out her blog Not Without Her Bowler Hat.